CITY 1 TOTTENHAM HOTSUR 0
League Division 1
21st August 1974
attendance 31,549
scorer Hartford(35)
Ref Robert Perkin
City MacRae, Barrett, Donachie, Doyle, Clarke, Oakes, Henson, Bell, Marsh, Hartford, Tueart – sub Leman(unused)
Spurs Jennings, Evans, Naylor, Coates, Osgood, Beal, McGrath, Perryman, Jones, Peters, Neighbour
ASA HARTFORD CELEBRATES SCORING THE ONLY GOAL OF THE GAME
FROM THE PRESS BOX
HARTFORD CITY’S WINNER
FROM THE GUARDIAN 22ND AUGUST 1974 BY A SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT
At Maine Road last night Manchester City resisted a late challenge from Tottenham Hotspur to win by the only goal of the game, although their victory was not one of their most impressive. Tottenham, who lost their first match by the same score to the much fancied Ipswich Town, could claim that they deserved at least a share of the spoils.
They had the best chance of a first half marred with irritating defensive tactics when Peters centred from the left, but McGrath, though well positioned by the far post, shot high with only Macrae to beat.
Doyle, who twice put the ball into the net only to be penalised each time, drove City forward constantly, but it was not until the 35th minute that his side received the reward for which they had worked so hard. Doyle provided the centre from the left and Hartford, signed from West Bromwich Albion eight days ago, flicked the ball past Jennings.
Tottenham, pale shadows of former great Hotspur teams, might have equalised four minutes before half-time when the industrious Perryman unleashed a shot which Macrae, a reflex goalkeeper who thrives on such occasions, saved superbly.
Evans was booked for a foul on Tueart a minute after half time, but the match was in keeping with the sporting tradition of past City v Tottenham games even though the football was not of the same high order.
Tottenham coaxed by the busy Coates, never wavered in their rugged resistance and there were periods in the second half when they might have equalised. Once more it was Macrae who blunted Tottenham’s efforts, saving impressively from Peters when he sprinted in on the blind side to head in a centre by Neighbour. Jennings too, had his moments, a fine save from the menacing Tueart being his best effort.